Derry trounce Westmeath

DERRY 1-18 WESTMEATH 0-7

A superb second-half display earned Derry their second victory in Division 1 of the National Football League as they ran out convincing 14-point winners over Westmeath at Ballinascreen.

Damien Cassidy's side held Westmeath to just two second-half points as a sterling effort from the Oak Leafers reaped the dividends.

It was a real team effort from the hosts.

They had eight players on the scoresheet, including corner forward Eoghan Brown who rifled home the only goal of the game in the 54th minute.

His strike had Derry leading by 1-16 to 0-6.

Brown's effort came after centre-back Derek Heavin had spilled the ball, in one of the few real mistakes from the Lake county rearguard over the 70 minutes.

Despite the convincing nature of the full-time score, the sides were evenly matched in the opening exchanges.

They were level at 0-2 apiece in the eleventh minute, thanks to a Denis Glennon point.

However, once Paul Bradley edged the hosts into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead a minute later with the first of his five points, Derry were never headed.

Derry were in excellent form and dominated midfield through their captain Fergal Doherty and Joe Diver.

They were guilty too of missing plenty of scoring opportunities.

Cassidy's men kicked six wides before the interval, although they did look comfortable at 0-9 to 0-5 at the turnaround.

Westmeath failed to score between the 27th and 44th minutes, as points were suddenly at a premium for the visitors.

The Leinster side were put under huge pressure defensively but All-Star goalkeeper Gary Connaughton and full-back Kieran Gavin continued to keep their side in contention, with excellent performances from both players throughout.

However, Derry really found their groove in the second half, with Eoin Bradley adding a brace of points inside five minutes of the restart.

A minute later, half-forward Enda Lynn was clear through for a goal opportunity but he opted for the safer option of taking a point as Derry opened up a seven-point gap.

Dessie Dolan's pointed free reduced the difference to 0-12 to 0-6 but Derry were in cruise control at this stage as points from defender Gerald O'Kane, Paul Bradley, Paddy Bradley and Lynn ensured they broke ten points clear as the game entered the final quarter.

A hungry Derry attack looked the most likely of the sides to produce a goal and it eventually arrived 16 minutes from full-time.

Brown capitalised on some poor Westmeath defending to knock the ball into the Westmeath net.

The visitors were firmly on the back foot at this stage and Derry sealed victory with scores from O'Kane and Eoin Bradley although Westmeath did manage the final point of the contest.

Denis Glennon's 65th minute point was mere consolation as Derry were home and dry.

DERRY: B Gillis; B Og McAlary, SM Lockhart, C McKaigue; P Cartin (0-1), B McGoldrick, G O'Kane (0-2); F Doherty, J Diver; E Lynn (0-3), J Kielt, B Mullan (0-1); E Brown (1-0), Eoin Bradley (0-5), Paul Bradley (0-5, 0-3f).

Subs used: Paddy Bradley (0-1) for Kielt (42 mins), Patsy Bradley for Diver (49), SL McGoldrick for Lynn (55), K McGuckin for B McGoldrick (61-64, blood sub).

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; A Claffey, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, W Murtagh; D O'Donoghue, D Duffy; P Kelly, J Smyth, D Harte; T McDaniel (0-1), D Glennon (0-3), D Dolan (0-3, 0-1f).

Subs used: N Kilcoyne for Murtagh (18 mins), E Leonard for Kelly (half-time), C Reilly for Smyth (49, yellow card), A Browne for O'Donoghue (55), F Spollen for McDaniel (56), K Scally for Duffy (61).

Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan)